Diagnosis

”Because of my symptoms I consulted a specialist physician. From the very first moment, I knew I was in the best of hands.“

Examination methods for people with breast cancer

Before the clarification of the breast disease, an interview takes place.
Personal anamnesis (interview about symptoms and complaints, life circumstances, menopause status, etc.)
Family history (cancer in the family, etc.)

Medical Palpation

Changes in the breast can be detected by regular self-examination. In addition, the examination should be carried in front of a mirror so that external changes to the breast can also be noticed. The self-examination is preferably performed between the seventh and twelfth day of the cycle. However, self-examination does not replace the medical palpation performed by a physician.

Mammography

A mammography is an X-ray examination of the breast. It is used for the early detection of breast cancer and to clarify palpation findings and other clinical abnormalities of the breast. Tomosynthesis (a 3D mammography technique) is used to create tomograms of the breast, which allows a higher diagnostic accuracy to be achieved.

Ultrasound

Breast ultrasound can be used as a supplement to mammography: for young women, this is the examination method of choice for further clarification of palpation findings and abnormalities in the mammogram and as a supplement to mammography for dense breast gland tissue.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

For special problems, magnetic resonance imaging of the breast (breast MRI) is used.

Biopsy procedures

Punch biopsy or vacuum-assisted biopsy

A tissue sample can be used to determine with certainty whether palpation or other clinical abnormalities are benign or malignant changes. At Breast Centre Zurich, we perform all types of image-guided biopsy. These include ultrasound-guided punch and vacuum-assisted biopsy, tomosynthesis-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy, and MRI-guided vacuum biopsy. The tissue removed during these procedures is examined in the laboratory for various biological characteristics. Based on these specific characteristics, further individual therapy is then planned.